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Pope Francis: Cardinals are servants of the Church

February 15, 2015 breaking Comments Off on Pope Francis: Cardinals are servants of the Church

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis presided over Mass in St Peter’s Basilica on Sunday, to offer thanks to God together with the College of Cardinals, one day after bestowing the Red Hat on twenty new prelates from around the world. Below, please find the official English translation of the Holy Father’s homily. ************************ “Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean”…  Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out his hand and touched him, and said: “I do choose.  Be made clean!” (Mk 1:40-41).  The compassion of Jesus!  That com-passion which made him draw near to every person in pain!  Jesus does not hold back; instead, he gets involved in people’s pain and their need…  for the simple reason that he knows…Continue Reading

Consistory: remarks of Cardinal Mamberti

February 14, 2015 breaking Comments Off on Consistory: remarks of Cardinal Mamberti

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis created 20 new Cardinals on Saturday. Speaking on behalf of the newly-created Cardinals, the Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, expressed gratitude, loyalty and generosity of spirit in service to the Church. Below, please find Vatican Radio’s English translation of Cardinal Mamberti’s remarks, originally delivered in Italian. **************************** Address of Cardinal Dominique Mamberti Holy Father, Along with our brother bishops who today become part of the College of Cardinals, I offer you respectful greetings together with our sentiments of sincere gratitude and filial devotion. Joining us in prayer is José de Jesùs Pimiento Rodriguez who has asked to be able to receive his red hat in Colombia as he cannot come to Rome for…Continue Reading

Reform of the Curia, at the centre of the Extraordinary Consistory

February 13, 2015 breaking Comments Off on Reform of the Curia, at the centre of the Extraordinary Consistory

Vatican City, 12 February 2015 (VIS) – A total of 165 cardinals participated in this morning’s first session of the Extraordinary Consistory with the Holy Father. Twenty-five were unable to attend due to illness or other serious problems, according to a report from the director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., following the morning meeting. Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga explained that the meeting of the Council of Cardinals (the so-called “C9”) which came to an end yesterday afternoon, focused primarily but not exclusively on the reform of the Curia; other themes addressed were the regulation of the Synod, the work of the Commission for the Protection of Minors, and relations with the economic entities of…Continue Reading

Pope Francis Appeals For Solidarity And Aid For Migrants

February 12, 2015 breaking Comments Off on Pope Francis Appeals For Solidarity And Aid For Migrants

Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has appealed for solidarity and aid for migrants who cross the Mediterranean Sea in search of refuge. His call for increased attention and aid follows news of the death of over 300 migrants who have drowned or died of hypothermia  in the latest deadly tragedy of the sea. In his appeal at the end of the weekly General Audience, the Pope said he is “following with preoccupation news from Lampedusa where there have been more deaths amongst the migrants caused by cold during their journey across the Mediterranean”. “I wish to assure my prayers for the victims and once again encourage solidarity so that no one is without necessary aid” he said. A statement from the…Continue Reading

Audience: Children, A Gift For The Family, The Church And Society

February 11, 2015 breaking Comments Off on Audience: Children, A Gift For The Family, The Church And Society

(Vatican Radio)  Continuing his catechesis on the family this Wednesday Pope Francis spoke about the joy of children in family life and how the choice to have children is not irresponsible but vital for a healthy, happy society. Below a Vatican Radio translation of the Holy Father’s Catechesis Dear brothers and sisters, After reflecting on the figures of mother and father, in this catechesis on the family I would like to mention the child or, rather, the children. I draw inspiration from a beautiful image from Isaiah. The prophet writes: “Raise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you— your sons from afar, your daughters in the arms of their nurses. Then you shall see and…Continue Reading

Pope Mass: Protecting Creation A Christian Responsibility

February 10, 2015 breaking Comments Off on Pope Mass: Protecting Creation A Christian Responsibility

(Vatican Radio) Christians are called to care for God’s creation. That was the Pope’s message at Mass this Monday morning at the Casa Santa Marta. The Holy Father also spoke about the “second creation”, the one performed by Jesus that he “re-created” from what had been ruined by sin. God creates the universe but creation does not end, “he continues to sustain what he has created.” That was the focus of Pope Francis’ homily as he dwelt on a passage from Genesis, in the first reading, which recounts the creation of the universe. “In today’s Gospel”, the Pope commented, we see “the other creation of God”, “that of Jesus, who came to re-create what had been ruined by sin.” We see…Continue Reading

Pope Francis: The devil Is The Root Of Jealousy, War

February 9, 2015 breaking Comments Off on Pope Francis: The devil Is The Root Of Jealousy, War

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Sunday evening visited the parish of San Michele Arcangelo in the eastern Roman district of Pietralata. The parish is on the peripheries of Rome, and home to 8,000 families. On his way to the parish, the Holy Father made a surprise visit to a shantytown called  “Campo Arcobaleno”, where he visited with residents for about 10 minutes. After arriving at the Parish Hall, Pope Francis met with a group of homeless people who are cared for by the Sant’Egidio Community. “The fact that people do not know your name, and call you ‘homeless’ and you carry this: It is your cross, and your patience,” said Pope Francis. “But there is something in the heart of…Continue Reading

Pope Francis to business leaders: Prioritize human dignity

February 8, 2015 breaking Comments Off on Pope Francis to business leaders: Prioritize human dignity

(Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis on Saturday (February 7th) urged business leaders to prioritize human dignity, and suggested three ways to do this: Firstly, by moving beyond emergencies to the real priorities, secondly, by being witnesses of charity and thirdly, by acting as custodians and not masters of our planet. His remarks came in a video message that was broadcast to a gathering of 500 international political and business representatives who were in the Italian city of Milan to discuss the theme: Feeding our planet, Energy for Life. This is the theme chosen for the upcoming International Exhibition Expo 2015 that opens in the northern Italian city in May. Referring to his speech at the World Food and Agricultural Organization last…Continue Reading

Pope Encourages Lay Faithful to Be a “Leaven of Christian Life” for Big Cities

February 7, 2015 breaking Comments Off on Pope Encourages Lay Faithful to Be a “Leaven of Christian Life” for Big Cities

Big cities are “fertile grounds” of evangelization that allows the Church to become a “leaven of Christian life” for citizens. This was the reflection given by Pope Francis during today’s address to the participants of the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council for the Laity. The Pontifical Council reflected on the theme: “Encountering God in the heart of the city: scenes of the evangelization for the third millennium.” The Holy Father began his address by saying that the assembly’s theme follows the path of his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, and  concentrates on the challenges of evangelizing urban cultures. However, he also noted that often times, big cities present both opportunities and risks for the Church. “They can be magnificent spaces…Continue Reading

Pope at Santa Marta: Servants of the Kingdom

February 6, 2015 breaking Comments Off on Pope at Santa Marta: Servants of the Kingdom

2015-02-05 Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) The Church must proclaim the Gospel “in poverty” and the people proclaiming it must have the sole aim of alleviating the miseries of the poor, never forgetting that this service is the work of the Holy Spirit and not of human hands. At Mass on Thursday morning in Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis returned to one of his favorite images for the Church – that of a field hospital- inspired by the Gospel of the day, in which Jesus sends his disciples out, two by two, to the villages to preach, heal the sick and drive out “unclean spirits”. Pope Francis said that there are many “wounded” waiting in the aisles of the Church for…Continue Reading